MNS strategy created new vote segment

After the 2007 civic elections when the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) won only seven seats, its chief Raj Thackeray had been working for this year’s elections.

His charisma and meticulously planned strategy have shown results.

With 28 seats — four times more than 2007, the MNS has come second in almost 56 wards and third in 20 wards.

What is so striking about the analysis of the results of 2012 civic election and also past Parliamentary and the Assembly election is that the voting pattern suggests, the votes coming to the MNS is not the ones from Sena’s share. The MNS has developed a new segment of voters.

“Even if citizens don’t like the aggressive working style of the MNS workers who adopt violent measures to get their work done, the election results say it all. Everyone appreciates the positive outcome,” said a professor of a suburban college.

MLA and senior party leader Nitin Sardesai said the citizens’ needs are not catered to by the civic administration and the ruling alliance. “We had only seven corporators in the BMC, they were overpowered by the ruling front, hence we were left with no choice but to take to the streets”, said Sardesai

The MNS leaders give party president the credit for achieving the results. “This is not an overnight jump. We have been taking few steps ahead in each election. What we achieved in 2007 civic election was taken ahead to assembly election in 2009,” said Sardesai.